Leoyce Henderson Broadbent passed away on August 9, 2020 at the age of 86 due to
complications of congestive heart failure which she had been living with for the past 26 years.
Leoyce was born on April 21, 1934 in her grandmother Stumpp’s home in Osmond, Wyoming.
She was the tenth and last child born to Thomas Wallace Henderson and Katherine Stumpp.
She grew up on a farm in Smoot, Wyoming. Her mother passed away when she was 9 years
old which was especially hard on Leoyce and her two other siblings that were still living at
home.
Leoyce went to school in Smoot through the 6th grade, then in the 7th grade she moved to
Salt Lake City with her dad and step mother due to her dad’s health problems where he was
unable to tolerate the cold winters of Star Valley. In the 8th grade Leoyce and her 2 older
siblings, Eva and Leslie moved back to their Smoot home where they lived by themselves.
After the 8th grade Leoyce, Eva and Leslie went to live with her older sister Mabel and her
husband Doc where they were very well cared for.
Leoyce went to Star Valley High School in Afton. She loved going with her friends to the high
school basketball games and then the dances afterward. She started working at the Silver
Stream Lodge in Afton when she was 16 years old where she babysat the owner’s children.
After she got a little older she started waitressing, cooking, and cleaning cabins at the Lodge.
Leoyce went to Utah State University after graduating from High School in 1952 where she met
her soon to be husband, Norville Broadbent in the Spring of 1953. They were later married on
September 19, 1955 in the Logan, Utah LDS temple. They moved to Texas after Norville
graduated from Utah State University as a commissioned officer in the Air Force. During their
time in the Air Force they also lived in North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. In 1960 they moved
to Seattle, Washington when Norville began working for Boeing. In 1964 they were transferred
to New Orleans, Louisiana where they lived for 20 months. Leoyce loved living in the Pacific
Northwest so she was very excited when Norville was accepted into Dental School at the
University of Washington. Leoyce worked full time in a dental office to help support their family
of four children while Norville, who was also working, went to Dental school. She was very
proud of the fact that he was able to graduate without any student loans. When she was at
home raising their four children, Leoyce was Norville’s bookkeeper for his dental practice and
later became his full-time office manager.
Leoyce and Norville served two local missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints and one in Tallahassee, Florida. She also served in various church callings including the
Relief Society and Young Women’s President.
Leoyce will be remembered as one who loved to serve, the importance of working hard and
being frugal. She enjoyed spending time quilting with friends and was known for her tiny even
stitches. She also enjoyed the several years she spent volunteering at the USO, a service
provided to military travelers. She loved to travel and was fortunate to be able to visit countries
all over the world.
Leoyce is survived by her four children; Calen H Broadbent (Stephanie), Diane Broadbent
Herman, Scott Alan Broadbent (Kendra) and Patti Broadbent Johnson (Shane). She has 13
grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Norville, and her parents, Thomas Wallace
Henderson and Katherine Stumpp, and her siblings; Dewey, May (Kingston), Millie (Henderson),
Bessie (Davis), Mable (Baird), Carl, Loren Lee, Eva (McCombs), and Leslie.
A viewing will be held for Leoyce at Marlatt’s Funeral Home in Kent, Washington on August 15
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. She will be laid to rest at the Afton Cemetery in Wyoming. A graveside
service will be held on Saturday, August 29 at 1 p.m.